Everyone knows that prospects are the lifeblood of *most* Major League franchises. The Houston Astros definitely fall in that *most* category.
In fact, the Houston Astros arguably has one of the largest quantities and best quality minor league pipelines around today.
But this isn’t a piece to praise how terrific a minor league system that general manager Jeff Luhnow and his front office has put together. Instead, it’s actually a post that wonders what the Astros should do with this exorbitant amount of young talent.
Take a look at the system. Even with the recent promotions of Alex Bregman, A.J. Reed, Teoscar Hernandez, and Joseph Musgrove, there is still talent littered around. Francis Martes, Kyle Tucker, Forrest Whitley are just a few names that come to mind. It’s feels good to see so much potential coming from in house.
However, is it time to start dealing some of that potential talent for proven talent?
Well, it depends on whom the Astros want to acquire. Names like Chris Sale, Sonny Gray, and Chris Archer are the first three to pop into most brains.
And if a deal for a front-end starter like that actually materializes, then yes, it would be advisable that they acquire that pitcher. Even if that means they surrender multiple promising prospects. Note that I did not say they should all be “top” prospects.
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The Astros do have the pieces necessary to pull off a trade for one of those pitchers. Unfortunately, someone like Martes, David Paulino, Kyle Tucker, and/or Joseph Musgrove would more than likely be part of any deal.
To acquire talent via trade, one must give up talent. That’s just the nature of the beast.
This is the Astros reality: either spend money on free agency or trade for an impact player.
I would honestly advise that Houston actually hold off on spending money for one more offseason. Something about the upcoming free agent class makes think twice of spending money for the sake of spending. Now, the 2017-18 offseason is a different story.
But the trade route is a viable one if the Astros front office is willing to go there. The question is whether the franchise still feels the burn from the regrettable trades from two trade deadlines ago.
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